Top-spinning device.



No. 705,252. Patented July 22, I902. F. W. KRANZ. TOP SPINNING DEVICE.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FREDERICK W. KRANZ, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TOP-SPINNING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,252, dated July 22, 1902.

Application filed August 5, 1901. Serial No. 70,875. (No model.)

To all 1072 0111. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. KRANZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 2002 James avenue, North Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new Device for Spinning.

Tops, of which the following, is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specifica tion.

My invention relates to amusements; andv it consists of means for imparting a rotary movement-to a top, which movement is so rapid that the top is maintained in an upright position for a great length of time, thereby furnishing the maximum amount of pleasure with the minimum amount of labor.

The novel feature of my device is that it is adapted to the spinning of all tops having stems and that while I use a string I do not wind the same around the top, as is generally the practice.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a blank or straight piece of wire from which I form my device; Fig. 2, the same after the first operation in forming my device; Fig. 3, the same after the second operation; Fig. 4, the same after the third operation; Fig. 5, the same after the fourth operation, which completes it; and Fig. 6, the device in combination with the string and top.

1 fashion my top-spinning device as follows: The first operation consists in cutting the wire into pieces of the required length, (about six inches long,) thus making the blanks a, as shown in Fig. 1. The second operation consists in bending one end of each blank laterally, as shown by b in Fig. 2. The" third operation consists in bending the other end thereof into a semicircle c, as shown in Fig. 3. The fourth operation consists in bending the intermediate portion at an angle, as shown by d in Fig. 4. The fifth operation consists in forming the portion intermediate the laterally-bent end I) andthe point d, at which the last-named bend is 'made, into a loop e, the laterally-bent portion 1) lying across or folded upon the body portion a, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

I use my top-spinning device as follows: Taking a piece of cord of the required length (about two feet long) I pass it over the laterally-bent end I) and draw it in between that portion and the bent portion d, with which it directly contacts, where it is held by the tension of the flexible wire parallel with thatportion of the device lying between the laterally-bent portion b and the semicircle c. I now place the stem 9 of the top within the semicircle c and while holding the spinner and top in the left hand 'wrap the string f once around the stem g and with the right hand draw the string from the spinner with a rapid motion, and thereby impart a swift rotary movement to the top, which now rotates free from and independent of the spinner.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a top having a stem, of a spinning device comprisinga strand of wire or the like lying substantially in the same plane throughout, having its one end engage said stem and lie upon the upper face of the top, the wire being looped intermediate of its ends and having its opposite end bent upwardly and contacting with the wire at the inner termination of the looped portion, the cord being received between said contacting portions of wire and retained by the tension of the. last-named end, and wrapped around the stem above the first-named end of the wire, substantially as described.

'2. The combination with atop having a stem, of a spinning device comprising a strand scribed.

FREDERICK W."KRANZ. Witnesses:

E. O. MORSE, W. H. SooTT.

bent into a semicircular portion adapted to 

